BIZOMAT MAKEOS · Manufacturing
Drilling Travel and Time
What feed travel and time does a through-hole need?
Estimate continuous-feed time for through-drilling, including the geometric drill point and chosen extra travel.
Open the calculatorRuns in your browser. No account needed.
How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Spindle speed | rpm | Actual machine setting, checked against tooling and machine limits. |
| Feed per revolution | mm/rev | Proven feed for the actual drill and material. |
| Drill diameter | mm | Actual drill cutting diameter. |
| Through thickness | mm | Material thickness along the drill axis. |
| Included point angle | ° | Drill point geometry; conventional conical-point approximation. |
| Additional feed travel | mm | Approach and full-diameter breakthrough allowance beyond the conical point. |
| Hole count | holes | Number of identical holes. |
What each input means
Open an input to see what it is, its units, the worked example and the common mistakes, with a small diagram.
What this means: Spindle speed
- What it is
- The spindle speed of the drill, as set on the machine.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in rpm: revolutions per minute. The form accepts 0.001 rpm to 1000000 rpm. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 1000 rpm as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- Penetration rate is directly proportional to rpm, so time falls as it rises.
- Get it right
- Check it against the drill supplier’s speed for the material before relying on the time.
What this means: Feed per revolution
- What it is
- How far the drill advances into the material for each revolution.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in mm/rev: millimetres per revolution. The form accepts 0.000001 mm/rev to 100 mm/rev. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 0.1 mm/rev as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- Feed time is inversely proportional to feed per revolution.
- Get it right
- Feed per revolution, not per cutting lip; a two-flute drill’s feed per lip is half this value.
What this means: Drill diameter
- What it is
- The cutting diameter of the drill, which also sets how long the conical point is.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in mm: millimetres. The form accepts 0.001 mm to 1000000 mm. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 10 mm as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- A larger drill has a longer point, adding feed travel.
- Get it right
- Use the actual drill size; it affects only the point length here, not the feed rate.
What this means: Through thickness
- What it is
- The thickness of material the drill passes through, measured along the drill axis from entry to exit face.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in mm: millimetres. The form accepts 0.001 mm to 1000000 mm. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 20 mm as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- Feed travel and time rise one-for-one with thickness.
- Get it right
- For an inclined hole, measure along the hole axis, not square to the surface.
What this means: Included point angle
- What it is
- The full included angle at the tip of the drill, measured across both cutting lips.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in °: degrees of angle. The form accepts 1° to 179°. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 118° as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- A smaller point angle gives a longer point, so more travel to break through.
- Get it right
- Use the included angle, not the half-angle; check the drill specification.
What this means: Additional feed travel
- What it is
- Extra feed travel beyond the drill point: the approach gap before the drill touches and an allowance so the full diameter clears the exit face.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in mm: millimetres. The form accepts 0 mm to 1000000 mm. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 2 mm as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- It adds directly to feed travel per hole.
- Get it right
- Include only travel made at the drilling feed; rapid approach does not count.
What this means: Hole count
- What it is
- How many identical holes of this size and depth are drilled.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in holes: holes. The form accepts 1 holes to 10000 holes. Use a whole number. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 6 holes as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- Total feed time is directly proportional to hole count.
- Get it right
- Holes with different depths or sizes need separate calculations.
Method and formulas
- Point length = diameter ÷ (2 × tan(included angle ÷ 2)).
- Feed travel = thickness + point length + extra travel.
- Time = hole count × travel ÷ (RPM × feed/rev). Angles are converted from degrees to radians.
Limitations
- For a through-hole, the point must pass beyond the exit before the full diameter breaks through.
- Excludes pecks, dwell, retract and positioning. Split points and unusual drill tips need their actual geometry.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- drill point
- through hole
- drilling time
Who it is for
- Machinists
- CNC programmers
What you get
- Conical point length
- Feed travel / hole
- Penetration rate
- Time / hole
- Total feed time
Interpreting the result
- Check exit clearance and use a separate calculation for blind-hole depth.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 866, 998, 1059–1072. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
- Sandvik Coromant: Drilling formulas and definitions — https://www.sandvik.coromant.com/en-gb/knowledge/machining-formulas-definitions/drilling-formulas-definitions
BIZOMAT tools are screening and decision-support utilities. Verify important financial, engineering, safety, legal or operational decisions using appropriate professional standards and your organisation’s approved data.